Dane Hansen has great day while Iniesta's friend falters

By Tom Pilcher

ASH, England (Reuters) - Struggling Dane Soren Hansen shrugged off his 2009 blues with a fine five-under-par 67 in the European Open third round on Saturday.

His day could not have contrasted more with playing partner Pablo Larrazabal, whose six-over par aberration at the 17th all but dumped him out of the tournament on seven-over (223).

Without a top-10 finish in 12 starts all season, the 35-year-old Hansen is desperate to recapture his form of 2007 and 2008, when he broke into the order of merit top 10 for the first time and made his Ryder Cup debut in Kentucky.

"I'm making a lot of cuts but nothing really happens," he told Reuters after his round in scorching conditions at the London Club, which left him five-under for the tournament (211).

Hansen followed up his first appearance in the Ryder Cup with two top-10s at the tail end of 2008, to end in 14th place in the order of merit.

Since then, however, the Dane has found the going tough.

"This year's been so-so," he said. "I just have to stay patient."

Hansen added that getting back to another Ryder Cup was the top of his priority list, unlike Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy who earlier this month called the event an 'exhibition'.